ONE of the brightest young stars in snooker has turned to a Droitwich club to help launch himself onto the world stage.

Despite suffering from Perthes' Disease, a potentially crippling hip condition and form of osteochondritis, Mitchell Mann has been tipped as a future world champion.

The youngster, who will be 15 on Boxing Day, has already represented his country at under 18 level and made 239 century breaks since October 2004.

Last month, while playing for Granville A' Premier Lea-gue Team in Solihull, he became the second youngest player ever to make a 147 maximum.

After being diagnosed with Perthes' Disease aged nine, a condition that affects 5.5 in 100,000 children aged two to 15, Mitchell joined his father Jeff at his local snooker club in Erdington while recovering from surgery.

He regularly plays charity matches to raise money for Ward 11 and Oncology patients at the Royal Orthopaedic Hospital in Selly Oak, where he is a patient.

Coached by Del Hill, who has worked with Ronnie O'Sullivan, Mitchell lost one such match 2-1 to Jimmy White last month and The Whirlwind' believes he can reach the top.

Father Jeff Mann said: "Del Hill said he's one of the best 14-year-olds he's seen and Jimmy White said that he can go all the way. He will go all the way and he will definitely be a top 16 player."

Despite living in Castle Vale, Mitchell has chosen to base himself at Droitwich Snooker Centre three times a week after being recommended to the club by Droitwich A' team player Garry Ford, also part of Mitchell's Solihull side.

Jeff said: "The club is interested in having a young England international and they have offered him the facilities of the club to help him improve his game.

"He's one of the most successful juniors in the game at the moment and we are very grateful for this opportunity."

The teenager, who has practised with Peter Ebdon and Chinese ace Ding Junhui, has a profile second to none.

This year he finished runner-up in the English Amateur Snooker & Billiards Association under 15 championship just weeks after coming out of a wheelchair following his latest operation.

Jeff added: "He's fine now. He's had his last major operation and that should be the end of it."

He also helped England under 16s win the International Cup, was joint runner-up in the Pontins Under 21 Series and won event two of the EASB Junior Tour.